TOLSTOI, LUKANIN, AND KITOVI. 573 



JULY 29. 

 TOLSTOI SAND FLAT. 



I accompanied Dr. Jordan to Tolstoi. The sand flat is very much thinner than 

 usual. It is dotted here and there in the vacant spaces with dead pups. One can 

 easily see that the space when cleared will show a mortality proportionate to that of 

 last year. Many pups are lying outside of the portion occupied by harems showing 

 that they have either been trampled after wandering away, or else that they have 

 crawled out of the mass to die. 



A portion of the wedge of harems extending along the bowlder beach toward the 

 sand beach was cleared oft'. The rocks are fall of dead pups. Ten were taken out in 

 a condition fit to be examined and left for Mr. Lucas to dissect. Two pups in a sick 

 condition were killed for dissection also. They showed the presence of worms. 



In passing along the sands of English Bay toward Zapadni Eeef, the seals on 

 Middle Hill roused up and stampeded toward the water. We were not on the 

 windward side and no apparent cause of their alarm existed, unless they took fright 

 at the movement of the seals near the water or at ourselves. They were at least an 

 eighth of a mile from us. 



At Zapadni Reef we found a few dead pups among the pods. The cows take to 

 the water readily now, but the bulls hold their ground. The pups are not swimming 

 to any extent, and it seems likely that a count of live pups can be made as well now as 

 later. The hulls will give some trouble, but they will serve to keep the pups separate. 

 If this calm weather keeps up after the pups learn to swim it will be impossible to 

 count them. 



Returning, we followed the coarse of the recent drive from this place. At the foot 

 of one of the sand dunes a dead bachelor was found which had evidently fallen from 

 above. The skin was still fit for museum purposes and so it was taken off. On 

 climbing to the top of the hill a trail was found where the seal had apparently been 

 dragged to the edge of the hill and thrown off. Following back over the drive 7 

 carcasses of seals which had died on the drive and had been skinned were found. 

 This drive, which was brought in to the side of the lagoon, was a long and hard one. 

 At one place near Lukanin the seals were forced to climb the steep side of a sand dune, 

 which must have been worse on them than half a mile of straight going. It would 

 seem that this might have been avoided. The drive from this hauling ground to the 

 lagoon head is too long. It is an unusual drive, made at this time to obtain carcasses 

 to send to St. George. 



LUKANIN AND KITOVI. 



In the afternoon we went to Lukanin and Kitovi rookeries. In the rear of these 

 rookeries were practically no idle bulls. It is noticeable that a number of new bulls 

 are located among the cows. There can be little doubt that many of the regular 

 harem masters have gone to sea and that the idle and young bulls are taking their 

 places. Under Lukanin the cows were very few in number. The pups are growing 

 conspicuous and are scattered everywhere. A feature worthy of notice on Lukaniu is 

 the fact that no harems whatever have entered the slides which make breaks in the 

 cliff. Last year these were full of cows and pups, which hauled back on the flat above 

 at this time. 



